James Shields insisted this series was not a measuring stick for the Rays.

“It’s too early to do that. If this is a four-game series, we’d probably take a little more emphasis on it,” the Rays righty said last night. “But it also is a little early. This two-game series, we wanted to come in here and win some games and we did our job.”

They did indeed. The Rays ripped the Yankees again last night, beating them 8-6 to sweep the two-game series in The Bronx. And early or not, the Rays proved they’re hardly a fluke, that they can hold their own against the Yankees and that the road to the AL East title continues to go through Tampa Bay.

The red-hot Rays have now won six straight, and they’re 30-11 on the season — on pace to win 118 games. They maintain a five-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

“I don’t think we proved anything. I think this whole league knows what we’re all about,” Shields said. “But it’s definitely good to come in here and sweep a two-game series and get five games up on them.”

“I don’t know if we’re message-senders,” said Rays manager Joe Maddon. “[The Yankees] know we can play well and play well here. They also know that they’re banged up.”

The Rays stole six bases on Wednesday, and last night they ripped four home runs — two from Carlos Pena. They jumped out early on the Yankees both nights, grabbing a 6-0 lead on Wednesday and a 3-0 edge last night.

Since 1969, only three AL teams have ever had a better record after 41 games than the Rays. The 1984 Tigers were an absurd 35-6, and the 2001 Mariners and 1998 Yankees were both 31-10. The Tigers won 104 games and the World Series, the Mariners won 116 games but lost in the ALCS and the Yankees won 114 games and the World Series.

The Rays refused to say they’re the team to beat, with Carl Crawford insisting, “The division’s so tough, you can’t really single out one team like that.” But the Rays do think they’re different from the 2008 version that went to the World Series.